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Group A: Greece

Once the most insular of football nations, Greece now readily export their best players and boast multiple registrations in the Champions League. The spin-off is an improved national team, and this will be the country’s first major tournament for a decade. The Greeks journey to Portugal as outsiders, but their place among Europe’s elite brooks no argument. Winners of a qualifying group that included Spain, they completed their campaign with six straight wins and as many clean sheets. Indeed, they were unbeaten in 15 matches until a 4-0 defeat by Holland in April. The team’s German coach, Otto Rehhagel, has repeatedly pronounced that Greece can reach the last eight. If so, it is likely to be his proven tactical expertise, rather than the prowess of a modest group of players, that takes them there